Intense boardroom wars and disagreements between two rival factions comprising of directors of the board at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has resulted to re-advertisement for the recruitment of the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, The Informer has learnt.
The aviation agency did not disclose findings of earlier interviews amid claims that some board members and senior KAA officials have blatantly opposed imposition of a preferred official believed to be the “desired candidate” of one of the rival factions, an insider said.
Without offering explanation to the 21 months delay, the agency blanketly encouraged all the applicants who had applied for the role nearly two years ago to re-apply and also called for fresh applicants who believe they meet the relevant criteria to apply not later than May 21, 2021.
KAA’s Managing Director post fell vacant on August 30, 2019 after MD Johnny Andersen announced his intention to quit before his close of term, citing personal reasons.
Andersen commenced his leave of office ahead of the close of contract on November 21,2019 bringing his three-year stay at the helm of the airports’ operator to an end having first joined the authority in November of 2016 from the Norwegian airports operator- Avinor AS.
He was succeeded by Finance General Manager Alex Gitari upon the initiation of the recruitment process.
Gitari’s exit came due to the fall out of a planned joint venture (JV)/operational merger with Kenya Airways (KQ) which also saw KQ CEO Sebastian Mikosz announce his departure from the carrier in May 2019.
KAA’s next Managing Director is to receive a three year contract of employment from the parastatal.
Previously, recruitment process for the KAA MD had on three occasions been canceled with claims of intense lobbying and political interference.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia finally picked consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to recruit afresh.
KAA had in November 2015 advertised the managing director’s post, receiving more than 120 applicants. The process was however terminated by Macharia.
The recruitment drive also took an interesting twist when President Uhuru Kenyatta revoked the appointment of David Kimayo as board chairman replacing him with former chairman Julius Karangi.
Karangi, now the chairperson at the National Social Security Fund served as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Joseph Kimote who then worked as the general manager, strategy, research and development at NSSF scored 82 percent while FastJet East Africa General Manager James Kibati, came in third with 74 percent. Other shortlisted candidates included former Kenya Tourism Board MD Muriithi Ndegwa and William Kirwa.
Former MD Lucy Mbugua was fired on corruption allegations in 2015.